Symptoms of a failed / failing steering gear

[glenlloyd]

Does anyone know what a failing steering box acts like?

I am still trying to resolve my shredded belt situation on the freeway from earlier in the week and I always end up at the same situation, the pump causes so much drag on the serp belt that it literally stops it. Tension is good and the pump is good, in fact both pumps I have are good.

When I turn the wheel the pump drags and stops the belt. The assist is almost non-existent at the steering wheel. This is the same condition with both pumps. This is with a new serp belt installed too. At idle it operates ok but increase idle speed and the pump complains.

I am beginning to think that this is a failed steering gear. Anyone got any other suggestions / ideas?

Thanks
Steve A

[layback40]

You may have a blockage or the valve in the steering box could be jammed. When the steering wheel is not being turned the fluid should just be pumped around the circuit without much pressure. You are describing the situation where the fluid is being restricted all the time. Did something go back wrong when you serviced the pump?

[weird beard]

Does it do this all the time? If so, start the car cold and see how long it takes the p/s system to heat up. If the gear is causing a restriction, the oil will get very hot very fast. I'm not sure on these pumps but most have an internal bypass that would prevent the pump from stalling.

Try cracking the pressure line at the gear with the car running. If the gear is causing a restriction, the oil will fly everywhere. Actually, it will do this if the gear is good, but at least you will know it is getting oil.

You could see if there is any oil flowing through the return, if the gear is restricting, it will have low return flow.

Is the oil aerated?
Does the oil smell burnt?

Is there a possibility of debris being inside the resevoir? I have seen pumps fail because they starve for oil.

[weird beard]

just a thought, is there a chance a plastic plug was installed in the other pump to keep it from leaking and / or getting debris in it? I don't know where the second pump came from. If it was used, they could have plugged the holes and you could have sent the plug down stream if it wasn't removed.

[glenlloyd]

The second pump I pulled from a closed system. I check pump rotation before pulling it to make sure it didn't demonstrate the same restrictive motion present in my existing pump. The replacement pump is actually older than my own, which was replaced back in 2005. I now believe there's nothing wrong with either pump.

I think the problem is some component of the steering gearbox. It could be the control valve that alters fluid pressure based on speed, low for highway cruising and high pressure for low speed maneuvering like parking. It just seems unusual that it would malfunction in this way.

At any rate, the gearbox needs to be replaced or overhauled. It leaks generously though never enough to drain the reservoir, in fact until I replaced the filter a few weeks ago I hadn't opened up the reservoir, but the gearbox was always wet and it required adjusting as well. It just had never demonstrated this sort of behavior before.

Steve A